Iwo is a city in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. It lies 6 miles (10 km) North of the Iwo station on the Lagos-Kano railway and at the intersection of roads from Ibadan, Oyo, and Ogbomosho, on a low hill at the edge of savanna and forest. The Iwo people, like all other people of Yoruba stock are said to have belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometimes in the 14th century. The present city of Iwo was founded founded in the 16th/17th century and it became the capital of the Yoruba kingdom of Iwo.

Understand

Iwo used to be part of old Oyo state but was separated and it became one of the major townships in Osun State. It has over 30 ancient and powerful kings all under the Oluwo of Iwoland, HRM Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi as the only consenting authority and first class paramount ruler. It has an estimated population of 191,348 (2006) and an area spanning 245 km².

The cultivation and export of cacao is the town’s economic mainstay. Yams, corn (maize), cassava (manioc), and palm oil and kernels, the chief staple crops, are grown north of the town. Cotton weaving and dyeing (with locally grown indigo) are traditionally important activities. Muslims constitute the major population of Iwo.

It host some Higher Institutions such as: Bowen University, Wolex Polytechnic, Baptist Teachers' Training College which was located at Oke Odo in Iwo, but this facility is now used as the campus of Bowen University, Westland University, Iwo City polytechnic, Royal College of Public Health and Technology, Empire College of Health Technology, Al Ummah College of Education, Federal College of Education, Offer Center Institute of Agriculture, Shariah College of Nigeria.

Iwo is the home for the first state television in Nigeria which was founded in the 1980s, Reality Television Service (RTS).

Get in

By car

Iwo can be accessed by car through Lagos Ibadan Expressroad from popular terminals called motor parks, for example from Oshodi and Ojota. It costs ₦2500-3000 (Jun 2021).

By bus

Commercial buses go to Iwo and can be found in the same parks. They are usually the slowest and pretty tedious as the bus has to get full before driver starts journey usually time-consuming.

By train

This is cheapest way to get to Iwo boarding a train at designated stations like Ebute-Ero through Ibadan then a cab to Iwo.

Get around

Minibuses and Tricycles are the common mode of transportation costing ₦50 -100. Motorcycles also available to move around.

Do

Iwo has a notable festival that takes palce in the area annually. This festival is known as the Egungu Festival.

Buy

• 1 Alhaja Rukayat Superstore, Ikire-iwo Rd. Daily. In-store shopping. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 World Wide Provision store, Palace store, ☏ +234-803-220-0041. Daily 24 hours. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 Iya any ventures, Ayepe primary School, 16 zone c, behind WEMA Bank, ☏ +234-806-005-2647. M-F 8AM-5PM. (updated Jun 2021)

Eat

There are many restaurants in which visitors can eat in Iwo.

• Tenifayo Restaurant on Oshogbo Rd. It opens daily 8AM-11PM.
• Afribuka Restaurant, ☏ +234-903-552-2463. (updated Aug 2021)
• Tito Gate Bowen University on Iwo Road daily 8AM-8PM
• Ewaoluwa Food Canteen (God's Beauty), Opposite Federal Government Forestry near Iwo Police Area command, Off Fawole Crescent, iwo-Gbongan Rd, ☏ +234-813-852-5257. Daily 24 hours. Dine-in. Takeaway. Delivery. (updated Jun 2021)
• Kemidele Restaurant, Oke Odo, ☏ +234 803-259-2507. M-Sa 8AM-11PM. Dine-in. Takeaway. Delivery. (updated Jun 2021)
• Unique Halal Foods, Omoosan Compound, Adjacent Ayeloja Boutique, ☏ +234 703-156-5506. M Sa 9AM-10PM, Su 7:43AM-9:44PM. Dine-in. Curbside pick up. Delivery. (updated Jun 2021)

Drink

• 1 Good life bar (Opposite Iwo Baptist High school, Adeleke), ☏ +234 803-537-6852. M-Sa 8AM-11:45PM, Su 10AM-11PM. Takeaway. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Kingtime Joe Bars and club House, Iwo Road, Ikire. Dine-in. Takeaway. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 E-pub, Opposite Skye Bank,Monatan, ☏ +234 805-857-4885. Dine-in. Takeaway. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Odo oba Hotel, 177 Oke Ago Rd. Pool, breakfast and room service. ₦10,200. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Osun Green Wich Hotel & Suites, Laito Area, Kitimo Rd, Bokusoro Junction, Off Iwo-ibadan Express Rd. Food service, room service. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 See bee Hotels & Events Center, Iwo-ibadan Express way. Room service, food service. (updated Jun 2021)

Go next

• Ilorin
• Sango
• Oyo
• Ogbomosho
• Ayegun
• Esie